Thon receives state award

-Assistant to mayor honored for efforts to assist Latino community.

-Assistant to mayor honored for efforts to assist Latino community.

November 07, 2006

Once, it was Federico "Fred" Thon's dream to pursue a career with the New York Yankees. He was a student at the University of Notre Dame and had just signed with them when he injured his shoulder. Later, it would be one of his sons who would live his Major Leagues dreams and make his father feel like that's all he ever really wanted. Today, Fred (as Federico is better known) works out three times a week and plays ball occasionally. But his goals shifted long ago and he is now being rewarded in other ways. Just recently, Fred received the Government Advocate of the Year Award from the Indiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for his work in representing and promoting the interests of the Latino community. Fred is on several boards of directors, including the Northern Indiana Workforce Investment Board, the South Bend Economic Development Commission, the Hispanic Leadership Coalition and the League of United Latin American Citizens. "My reason for being on those boards is to make sure that the Latino community is taken into account in everything," he says. "That there is representation." The award is given to a person who is actively engaged in pursuing community efforts and initiatives within the Latino community or who has made significant contributions to the advancement of the Latino community in Indiana. "We're very proud that (Fred) got it," said Mary Jane Gonzalez, president of the Indiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which was established in 2000 to advocate for and assist all Hispanic businesses in the state. Fred, who has five sons (including Dickie, who played in the Major Leagues), was once a businessman, owner of Thon Steel. He sold the multimillion-dollar company to accept a position as assistant to South Bend Mayor Stephen Luecke in 2000. "At my age, it was an opportunity to make a difference," said Thon, whose wife Carol also is active in community. Since he took that position, he says, he's most proud of being able to help the minority community, especially the Latino community, on a daily basis. He says almost every day he is asked for help from people who want to start a business, are looking for employment or who need guidance in communicating with the city or law enforcement. Fred says his overall mission is to help the minority community reach the same quality of life that others have, and that means the same level of financial stability and education as Pablo Ros Voces Latinas Pablo Ros writes a weekly feature for The Tribune. those who are more privileged. One of the biggest challenges facing the Latino community, he says, is electing a Latino official, whether it be to the county council or the school board. Another challenge is to encourage more Latino families to strive for higher education. "The key is to be more inclusive on both sides," he says. "Not only that the Anglo community be more inclusive but that the Latino community want to be included." One of his more immediate goals is to restart the Michiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which he co-founded with three other local residents. "There are many Latino businesses now that are well viable, but to renew that kind of effort we need more than volunteers, we need funding," he says. Fred, who is from Puerto Rico, says he's noticed positive changes in the perception of Latinos among the Anglo population. "I think today the Latino community is seen as hardworking, religious, family-oriented," he says, "more than it was five or ten years ago."Staff writer Pablo Ros: pros@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6555